Elevator device.



R. P. LUMLEY & H. G. HILLMANi ELEVATOR DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1907.

1 442 Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

WITNESSES: INVENTORS,

ATTORNEY UNTTED %TATE% T ATENT @FFTQE.

ROBERT P. LUMLEY AND HENRY Gr. HILLMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A CORPORA- ELEVATOR DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT P. LUMLEY, a citizen of the United States, and HENRY G. HILLMAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, both residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Elevator Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to elevator controlling mechanism and in regard to the more specific features thereof, to a safety device particularly adapted to be applied to the controlling mechanism whereby movement of the car is prevented after a door is opened.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple and practical device of the above nature which will be efficient in operation.

Another object is to provide a device of the above nature for use in connection with elevator safety systems that will be cheap to manufacture and may be installed on controlling apparatus of any form of elevator.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the above nature that may be adjusted to compensate for Variations and wear in the controlling mechanism in order that the neutral point may be engaged by the safety device when the controlling means is substantially in position to hold the car at rest.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of our invention, Figure 1 is a partial front view of a controlling wheel with the safety device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the drawing in detail. a rotatable controlling member 1 which. in the embodiment shown is the valve wheel, has securely fixed thereto a plate 2 provided with a centrally disposed notch substantially as shown in Fig. 2. Adjustably mounted on Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 25, 1907.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

Serial No. 375,756.

this plate 2 are a plurality of plates 3 and 4 each of which is provided with 'slots 5, 5, and 5, 5, through which pass bolts to the plate 2 on the wheel 1. The inner corners of these plates are provided with notches or stepped down portions 6 and 6' while the outer edges thereof are provided with projecting lugs adapted to be engaged by set screws 7 and 7, passing through ears or lugs S and S forming a part of the fixed plate 2. The ends of these set screws bear against the lugs on the slidable plates 3 and 4 and are provided at their opposite ends with nuts whereby they may be easily rotated and held in adjusted position by suitable lock nuts to move plates 3 and 4t relatively to the wheel in order that the neutral point may be shifted when found necessary by the wearing of the valves or other mechanism associated with the controlling of the elevator. For this purpose it is desirable to have the notch in the fixed plate 2 of a greater width than the notch or space between the plates 3 and 4.

A movable latch or finger 9, the end of which is shown in Fig. 1 adapted to be ac tuated. on the opening or closing of any door on the various floors of the building in which the system is installed is adapted to engage the notch in the fixed plate 2 and the space between the adjustable plates 3 and 4 to prevent a movement of the controlling wheel away from the neutral position so long as the door is open. Should the door be opened while the car is in motion, as is frequently done when the car is about to stop at a floor, the finger 9 will be moved into engagement with the notches 6 or 6 in the plates 3 or 4, thereby positively preventing a movement of the controlling wheel away from the neutral position to increase the speed of the car, yet allowing the wheel to be moved to the neutral position whereby the finger 9 will drop into the neutral point, thus positively holding the car against movement. The step down notches insure the engagement of the finger with the stop mechanism if the door is opened before the controller is thrown quite to neutral, but they permit less movement of the finger between the main stop plates after the finger slips down in the main slot by permitting of a. narrower main slot for preferably wider than the finger 9 so that the controlling mechanism may be actuated to a slight extent, for instance, to compen- H sate for leakage and to permit a slow movement of the car if desired, and also to more readily insure that the finger 9 will engage the neutral point and not pass over the same should the controlling mechanism be actuated at too great a speed.

The operation and the manner of use of this invention is substantially as follows: As the car approaches a floor at which it is desired to make a stop the controlling wheel 1 is rotated toward the neutral position to gradually slow down the car. Very likely the operator having the car under control will start to open the door before the car comes to a stand-still. As soon as the door is opened through suitablecircuits not herein shown and described, the finger will be actuated to engage either the notch 6 or 6 according to the direction in which the car is moving, thus positively preventing the operator from moving the controlling mechanism but slightly away from the neutral position. As soon as the car is stopped by the controlling-wheel which will have then been rotated to the position shown in Fig. 1, the finger 9 will engage the neutral point thereof and positively hold the same against movement, except such as may be necessary to compensate for leakage, as above described, until the door is closed when the finger 9 will be drawn from the notch, allowing the controlling wheel to be rotated in either direction.

It may here be noted that the expression neutral position is used in this specification and claims to indicate the position assumed by the valve or other controlling mechanism, when the elevator is at rest and that with reference to the valve wheel, theneutral point is that point in the circumference thereof which will be opposite the latch or other locking means when the controlling mechanism is in neutral position.

It is thus seen that this invention provides for a simple and practical device possessing the advantages and accomplishing, among others, the objects above set forth.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accom iianying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a member adapted to be actuated by the opening and closing of a door, a rotatable controlling member, means associated with said controlling member having notches therein, adapted to be engaged by said first mentioned member when actuated by the opening of a door to permit movement of said controlling member toward the neutral position and lock the same against movement away therefrom, and means for adjusting said first mentioned means about said rotatable controlling memher.

2. In a safety device adapted to be attached to an elevator controlling mechanism, in combination, a plate, and a pair of members mounted thereon having a space therebetween and oppositely disposed notches therein.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a member adapted to be actuated by the opening and closing of a door, a rotatable controlling member, plates secured to said member having an opening therebetween, and a notch at either side of the said opening adapted to be engaged by the said first mentioned member when actuated by the opening of a door to prevent a movement of said controlling member in either direction away from a neutral position .and permit movement of said member toward a neutral position.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a member adapted to be actuated by the opening and closing of a door, a controlling member, an adjustable means having a central opening, a notch at either side of the said openin adapted to be enu gaged by the said first mentioned member when actuated by the opening of a door to prevent a relative movement of said controlling member in either direction away from a neutral position and permit movement thereof toward a neutral position.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a member adapted to be actuated by the opening and closing of a door, a rotatable controlling member, an adjustable means having a central opening, a notch at either side of the said opening adapted to be engaged by the said first mentioned member when actuated by the opening of a door to prevent a movement of said controlling member in either direction away from a neutral position, and means adapted to engage said first mentioned means for adjusting same relatively to said controlling member.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination, a finger adapted to be actuated by the opening and closing of a door, a controlling member, a notched plate associated therewith adapted to be engaged by said finger when said controlling member is in its neutral position, and adjusting means engaging said notched plate for moving the same relatively to said controlling member and adapted to take up the end thrust on said notched plate when engaged by said finger, whereby said plate is preven ed from being moved out of adjusted position.

7. In a device of the class described, in combination,a finger adapted to be actuated by the opening and closing of a door, a rotatable controlling wheel, a plurality of plates secured to said controlling wheel having a space therebetween at the neutral point adapted to receive said finger when the door is open to hold said wheel against rotation and means associated with said plates permitting a relative movement of said controlling member toward a neutral position and locking the same against movement away therefrom.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, a finger adapted to be actuated by the opening and closing of a door, a controlling member, a plurality of plates secured to said controlling member having a space therebetween at the neutral point adapted to receive said finger when the door is open to hold said member against relative movement, and means for adjusting one of said plates to shift the neutral point, said plates having means associated therewith whereby the controlling member may be moved toward the neutral position and locked against movement away therefrom.

9. In a device of the class described, in combination, a. finger adapted to be actuated by the opening and closing of a door, a cont-rolling means, a plurality of plates secured to said controlling means having a space therebetween at the neutral point adapted to receive said finger when the door is open to hold said means against movement, and means for adjusting both of said plates to shift the neutral point, said plates having means associated therewith whereby the controlling member may be moved toward the neutral position and locked against movement away therefrom.

10. In a device of the class described, in combination, a finger adapted to be actuated by the opening and closing of a door, a ro tatable controlling wheel, a plurality of plates secured to said controlling wheel having a space therebetween at the neutral point adapted to receive said finger when the door is open to hold said wheel against rotation, and means engaging both of said plates whereby the same may be adjusted relatively to said controlling wheel for altering the position of said neutral point, said plates having means associated therewith whereby the controlling wheel may be moved toward a neutral position and locked against movement away therefrom.

11. In a device of the class described, in combination, a finger adapted to be actuated by the opening and closing of a door, a

rotatable controlling wheel, a plurality of I plates secured to said controlling wheel having a space therebetween at the neutral point adapted to receive said finger when the door is open to hold said wheel against rotation, lugs on said plates and setscrews engaging said lugs for moving said plates relatively to said controlling wheel whereby the neutral point is shifted, said plates having means associated therewith whereby the controlling wheel may be moved toward a neutral position and locked against movement away therefrom.

12. In a device of the class described, in combination, a finger adapted to be actuated by the opening and closing of a door, a rotatable controlling wheel, a plurality of plates secured to said controlling wheel having a space therebetween at the neutral point adapted to receive said finger when the door is open to hold said wheel against rotation, lugs on said plates, and set screws engaging said lugs for moving said plates relatively to said controlling wheel whereby the neutral point is shifted, one of said plates having a notch adapted to be engaged by said finger before the wheel is rotated to neutral position whereby rotation away from neutral position is prevented after one of the doors is opened.

13. In a device of the class described, in combination, a finger adapted to be actuated by the opening and closing of a door, a rotatable controlling wheel, a plate on said wheel, a plurality of plates secured to said first mentioned plate having a space therebetween adapted to be engaged by said finger when a door is open, and set-screws secured to said first mentioned plate for adjusting the position of said second mentioned plates.

14. In a device of the class described, in combination, a finger adapted to be actuated by the opening and closing of a door, arotatable controlling wheel, a plate on said wheel, a plurality of plates secured to said first mentioned plate having a space therebetween adapted to be engaged by said finger when a door is open, said second mentioned plates having notches adapted to be engaged by said finger to prevent a. movement of the controlling wheel away from neutral position.

15. Adjustable notch mechanism comprising a notched plate adapted to be secured to the rim of a wheel; a pair of slidable pieces on said notched plate in position to narrow the notch therein; means for holding the slidable pieces to the fixed piece; and means for adjusting the positions of the slidable pieces with respect to one another, in combination witha suitably controlled locking finger or bolt adapted to be projected into and out of the notch between such slidable pieces.

16. Adjustable notch mechanism comprising a notched plate adapted to be secured to the rim of a wheel; a pair of slidable pieces on said fixed plate in position to narrow the notch therein and being provided with stepped inner corners; means for holding the slidable pieces to the fixed plate; and means for adjusting the positions of the slidable pieces with respect to one another.

17. Adjustable slot mechanism comprising a notched plate adapted to be secured to the rim of a wheel; a pair of slidable pieces each provided with slots; bolts extending through said slots and engaging the notched plate for the purpose of holding the slidable pieces on the notched plate; and adjusting screws carried. on said notched plate and bearing on said slidable pieces whereby the relative positions of the slidable pieces may be varied, in combination with a suitably controlled locking finger or bolt adapted to be projected int-o and out of said notch.

18. Adjustable slot mechanism comprising a notched plate adapted to be secured to the rim of a wheel; a pair of slidable pieces each provided with slots and stepped inner corners; bolts extending through said slots and engaging the notched plate for the purpose of securing the slidable pieces to the notched plate; adjusting screws carried on said notched plate and bearing on said slidable pieces whereby the relative positions of the slidable pieces may be varied; and lock nuts on said adjusting screws.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names hereto in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

ROBERT P. LUMLEY. HENRY G. HILLMAN. lVitnesses Rom. B. KILLGORE CONRAD DIEHL. 

